How do you celebrate Christmas in other countries? What traditions are maintained there? Six people who originally come from the USA, Togo, Peru, Afghanistan, Slovakia and China and live in the Freising district talk about the customs in their cultures. And about their upcoming Christmas parties.
Jason Reed, 52, from the USA
Jason Reed
(Photo: private)
“I come from Ohio and have lived in the Freising district for about 20 years, previously in Neufahrn and now in Moosburg. Our Christmas celebrations are very mixed. According to German tradition, the big gift-giving takes place on Christmas Eve; we celebrate it on December 25th so-called Christmas Stockings. This is an American custom that is reminiscent of the German Santa Claus – who, however, is not known in the USA: Christmas stockings are hung up and filled with little things at night.
A special tradition that we have in the family is that of the Christmas pickle: a pickle made of glass is hidden in the Christmas tree and whoever finds it gets an additional gift. There are many Americans of German descent living in Ohio and I suspect that this is an old German tradition that has now been forgotten here.
What I particularly like about German Christmas traditions is Advent as a time of being together: every evening we eat together and play something together. In the USA, however, only December 25th, Christmas Day, is really important; you go back to work the day after. I also think it’s nice that you don’t use a plastic Christmas tree like in the USA, but a real one. Because I love the smell of it.”
Deo Amados, 57, from Togo
Deo Amados
(Photo: private)
“When I came to Freising from Togo with my wife in 1997, we quickly noticed that Christmas is different here. Here in Africa it is a very loud, lively celebration. No neighbors complain about loud music. On the contrary: you join in the celebration. It is a huge community celebration in which several families and circles of friends come together. Everyone drinks, eats, makes music and dances together. There are African Christmas songs and a goat or a lamb is slaughtered for the special occasion. In Germany That’s not typical, so we had to get used to it.
Gifts are also a part of the celebration, but they are not the main focus. Consumption does not represent our culture. Gifts are often made by yourself. For example, cars are made from cans and the tires are made from the rubber of a flip-flop. It is a custom for us to go to church at midnight. A nativity play is being performed, but with real animals.
We have adapted to the Germans. I celebrate December 24th with my family in a small way at home. But there will be a big party on New Year’s Eve with people from the Togo community from Freising.”
Carmen Woitschach, 59, from Peru
Carmen Woitschach
(Photo: private)
“I have lived in Germany since 1985 and in Eching since 2000. I originally come from the Peruvian capital Lima. Since the country is largely Catholic, Christmas is also celebrated there. But it is a little different than in Germany. Especially because in Peru during Advent is summer. On December 24th we always went to church at lunchtime. In the afternoon we had panettone and cocoa, we call the meal “Lonche”. When the clock struck zero, the Christ child was symbolically placed in the manger, then afterwards There was a big feast with turkey and salads. For us, Santa Claus “Papa Noël” brings the presents. I can remember that there were hardly any Christmas decorations back then, in contrast to now.
Even in Germany, I still go to lunchtime services with my family. However, I have noticed that it is a little more difficult here to wait until midnight to eat and give presents. Because it’s cold here, the children can’t spend so long outside. So I decided to keep my previous ritual, but to bring it forward a little. Now my granddaughter can put the Christ child in his crib in the afternoon. We start dinner at 7 p.m. Then comes the gift giving.
Three years ago I was in Peru again for Christmas and I noticed that I definitely like it better in Germany during Advent. The climate here means the Christmas atmosphere is completely different and I enjoy sitting in my cozy, warm apartment by candlelight while it’s cold outside.”
Mohibullah Amiry, 28, from Afghanistan
Mohibullah Amiry
(Photo: private)
“I come from the Afghan city of Kunduz and have lived in the Freising district for ten years. Christmas doesn’t play a role in Afghanistan, so I only celebrate it when I’m invited, but not at home alone. These are the important religious celebrations in Afghanistan The festival of breaking the fast after Ramadan and the Feast of Sacrifice, which are also celebrated in other Muslim countries. During the holidays, people visit relatives and, especially children, receive small gifts, such as pocket money.
Another traditional festival is Nowruz, the New Year. Nowruz takes place at the beginning of spring because there is a different time calendar there. A typical drink is made from seven fruits. Unfortunately, the Taliban have now banned this festival because it is not religious. The really big celebrations in Afghanistan are wedding celebrations, where 1,000 to 2,000 guests are invited.”
Anton Ivasko, 72, from Slovakia
Anton Ivasko
(Photo: private)
“39 years ago I fled with my family from Bratislava to Bavaria. We spent our first German Christmas in the asylum seekers’ home. We were invited to the parish hall. That was very nice and I quickly noticed that the Germans celebrate Christmas in a similar way We are in Slovakia. There are still some differences to our culture. For example, I wanted to buy a live carp for the celebration in our first apartment in Munich for the joy of all the children, as that is our custom. It will last until Christmas dinner kept in the bathtub. However, the German sellers only looked at me askance when I wanted to buy it.
I have been living in Eching with my whole family since 1991 and everyone meets in our house at Christmas. Our house won’t be decorated until December 24th, and the Christmas tree won’t be there until that day. Everything is dismantled again on the day of the Three Kings. For us, Christmas Eve begins at around 6 p.m. with eating wafers with honey. This is followed by a hearty cabbage soup that my wife cooks for the whole family. This is a fixed ritual among Slovaks. After dinner there are gifts from “Ježiško”, the Christ child. Over the holidays it is a must to watch Czechoslovakian Christmas films, such as the fairy tale “Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella” by Václav Vorlíček.”
Yarong Huang, 47, from China
Yarong Huang
(Photo: private)
“I come from Shanghai, the largest city in China. When I was 25, I came to Bavaria because of love. I have been living in Freising since 2004. Christmas is not officially celebrated in China. Nevertheless, shopping centers, for example, are decorated for Christmas, but only in the western one Since Christmas is unimportant for my family from China, they don’t necessarily come to Germany to visit at that time.
For them, the big day of the year is Chinese New Year. The whole family comes together there. Everyone needs to be dressed up so they can start the new year well. This means that beforehand you have to have been to the hairdresser, your shoes should have been cleaned and it is best to wear new clothes. It is common to receive cash as a gift. The different sayings that people say to each other that day are also important. For example, you wish your loved ones: “Your life will be as long as the ocean” or “your wealth will be as big as the mountains.” There is also a big fireworks display. In Freising I celebrate the festival with my Chinese community.
I celebrate Christmas here with my little family, including presents and Christmas carols. On Christmas Eve we combine German and Chinese cuisine. There’s Bavarian roast pork, but also Peking duck.”